Some of the gloves are a little grubby...so in my wisdom, I decided to see if one would wash...

yes, I know, I said wash...

Noooooo, I hear you scream.

In my defense I was feeling very tired and my brain these days is puddled.

Anyway, after a brisk handwash (of just the one glove) and a dry in the breeze...

this is the monster that I was left with....

not exactly pretty is it?

So...seeing that these very slender, 'seen better days' gloves are in need of ...

what they call these days ...'upcycling'? Is that the term? I call it reworking.

I chose a glove, not that nasty ruined one and cut and sewed two of the fingers...

for ears for Beryl,

Beryl the Bunny Brooch.

She is made of old, worn patchwork and ticking cotton...

she is, of course, inspired by the iconic Julie Arkell's work.

Here is Beryl, having a chat with a chicken, who doesn't seem to be very interested...

and onto brooches.

I have constructed these brooches to highlight the beauty and the skill of the tiny, sometimes hidden perfect details.

The button holes are so exquisitely worked and that number, oh, so lovely.

I would never ever buy new kid leather, but these gloves were one step away from being skipped,

so I have tried to put them to some sort of new purpose.

The brooches are only a couple of inches square.

I have used very old quilt snippets too, to add more texture and colour.

This brooch is made from the glove inside out, to highlight the alphabet which has been stamped onto the leather.

A little hand embroidery too and always a button.

Finger tips across the top.

So there you are, I hope I haven't confused you with my strange ramblings about old gloves.

~0~

Change of subject...I thought I would mention that I have this very beautiful piece of original French Wallpaper for sale in my eBay shop. I think it is hand blocked? (Any info would be greatly appreciated).

It is truly beautiful and hard to part with, but University Fees do not pay themselves.

Well more fool the chicken!! Beryl is positively beautiful and would be very hard to resist.. being a chicken or any other beast!You clever thing.. I remember when you bought those gloves and wondered what inspired creations you would make with them..

Viv, STOP! I had to wing this off NOW, haven't even read to the bottom of your post. Get the blooming glove out of the bin and work it with your fingers - it will come good - trust me! Now I'll read on... Oh and by the way two fingers to you too lassie, I often feel like doing rabbits ears to folk who cut me up in my Smart car. Burrow loads love, LinX

What an inspired way of using those gloves! I too have several pairs which are so exquisite I haven't had the courage to cut into them yet, but I will one day. As you say, the tiny details and the incredible stitching deserve to be highlighted and given their due admiration. As for Beryl, just wonderful Viv! x x

Now, this talk of kid gloves reminds me of one of my all time favourite books - Fingersmith by Sarah Waters. If you haven't read it you must!Love what you've done with the glove - and the hooded claw made me laugh!

That glove looks positively scary - I certainly wouldn't want to meet it in a dark alley. The little Beryl however is a different kettle of rabbits all together and I'd love to find her up an alley whether it was dark or light.

Hi Viv,Your 'reworking' skills have performed brilliantly! What unique pieces you have created...The kid gloves from years ago always seem amazingly tiny...no way many of us would fit into them today...so much better that they now have a new life...I had some tatty remnants of old baby gowns - The tiny stitches on those were gorgeous too...its such a privilege to work with these old textiles, isn't it?

Kid --- = Chamois , Now you could have put them on and washed the car or glass Hmmmm! Well Necessetity is the mother of invention so the saying goes and you have certainly put together beauty from near failure. Good on You take a bow.

Must say that Beautiful Beryl looks decidedly festive in her photo!Can you believe I used to buy these old gloves to wear? Having quite small hands they do actually fit....but the washed one is a thing of nightmares!